Beef Science Technology
Beef Science Technology
Subject Area: Agriculture and Animal Sciences
Award: Associate of Applied Science
Minimum Credits: 74
Location: Calmar
Entry: Fall, Spring, Summer
Description
The beef industry is a tremendous force in the world of food production. Beef is currently a highly valued food product that supports a highly technical and diversified industry. Northeast Iowa Community College provides the opportunity for students to learn skills that will prepare them to be contributing members of this rapidly changing industry. Career options include: beef procuring specialists, feed and nutrition consultants, cattle ranchers, feedlot managers, positions working with/at veterinary clinics, industry jobs with AI firms, meat processors or beginning producers developing their own beef producing enterprises.
This program provides hands-on experience that enables students to be successful in today's beef industry. The state-of-the-art Beef Science Education Center offers students the opportunity to interact with cattle in a safe and efficient cattle handling system. The program offers a diversified education on many topics such as genetics, reproduction, nutrition, feeding, health and financial management. Along with the many experiences on campus, students have the opportunity to participate in field trips to many successful cattle operations and beef industry businesses both in Iowa and around the country. Students also have the opportunity to take part in quality internships that provide a wealth of knowledge and exposure to successful beef industry professionals.
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Enrollment Process
- Apply for admission.
- Submit official high school, high school equivalency and/or college transcripts to the Admissions Office of the campus you plan to attend.
- Complete ACCUPLACER® reading and writing assessment and ALEKS® math assessment for course placement. Assessments may be waived based on previous college coursework or submission of valid ACT®, ACT Compass® or ALEKS® test scores. ACCUPLACER® scores are valid for three years, and ALEKS® scores are valid for 18 months.
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Academic Requirements
Fall Course Title Credits AGA:114 Principles of Agronomy1 3.0 AGB:330 Farm Business Management 3.0 AGS:101 Working with Animals 2.0 AGS:114 Survey of the Animal Industry2 2.0 AGS:344 Agricultural Equipment, Selection, Operation, and Maintenance 1.0 AGS:354 Applied Animal Selection and Improvement 2.0 SDV:179 *The College Experience 3.0 Spring Course Title Credits AGB:235 Intro to Agriculture Markets 3.0 AGB:333 Applied Farm Financial Management 2.0 AGS:226 Beef Cattle Science 3.0 AGS:253 Spring Beef Cattle Science Lab 2.0 AGS:331 Animal Reproduction 3.0 AGS:334 Applied Reproductive Techniques 2.0 AGS:944 Issues Facing Animal Science 1.0 SPC:112 Public Speaking 3.0 Summer Course Title Credits AGS:830 Beef Production Internship 2.0 Fall Course Title Credits AGB:466 Agricultural Finance 3.0 AGS:242 Animal Health 3.0 AGS:244 Applied Animal Disease Prevention and Treatment 2.0 AGS:251 Beef Production Management 3.0 AGS:252 Fall Beef Cattle Science Lab 2.0 AGS:353 Animal Genetics 3.0 COM:723 Workplace Communications OR 3.0 ENG:105 Composition I 3.0 Spring Course Title Credits AGA:212 Grain and Forage Crops 4.0 AGB:245 Agriculture Risk Management OR 3.0 AGB:336 Agriculture Selling 3.0 AGS:319 Animal Nutrition 3.0 AGS:326 Applied Ration Balancing and Feeding 2.0 PSY:112 Psychology of Human Relations 3.0 BIO:248 Intro to Bioscience Technology OR 4.0 ENV:115 Environmental Science 4.0 This Associate of Applied Science degree program requires a minimum of 15 credits of transfer-level general education electives from Communication, Humanities, Math, Science or Social Science. Three of these hours can include SDV:179 The College Experience. If The College Experience course is waived or transfers in for less than three credits, an additional general education elective is required.
Articulation can be achieved by successfully passing an NICC Agriculture Department proficiency exam and taking the following at your high school:
¹Animal Science
²Crop Science -
Employment Information
The annual income range for Beef Science Technology graduates is $30,888 - $45,841.
Source: EMSI; Salary range represents 10th percentile - median annual wage for related occupations within a 100-mile radius from the center distance between Calmar and Peosta Campuses.
Future Ready Iowa is an initiative led by the governor to build Iowa’s talent pipeline by meeting the goal of 70 percent of all Iowans to have a two-or four-year college degree, industry recognized certificate or other credential that meets employer need by 2025. Northeast Iowa Community College has the programs necessary to meet this goal.
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Additional Information
Related Student Organizations
Postsecondary Agriculture Students, Dairy Science Club
Facilities
Dairy Center, Cow-Calf Facilities, Feedlot
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Contacts
Lenny Graves
Dean of Career and Technical Education
800.728.2256, ext. 240
gravesl@nicc.eduNate Gebel
Beef Science Technology Instructor
866.474.4692, ext. 105
gebeln@nicc.eduDan Lane
Agriculture Science Instructor
563.562.3263, ext. 132
laneda@nicc.edu